Apple Applies for Podcast Navigation Patent

By Jeff Gamet

Nov 29th, 2006 3:00 PM EST

A new patent application from Apple Computer that describes a hierarchical menu system for navigating podcasts on an iPod surfaced on Thursday. Patent application 20060265637, Utilization Of Podcasts on Portable Media Devices, details how a user would access podcasts stored on a portable media player, and also how the metadata in a podcast file could be displayed.

The patent application defines devices that may use this system as "a portable music player, a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistant." Of course, Apple is describing any type of portable device that may be able to play podcasts, but itis possible this also hints at future product plans.

Podcast menu diagrams.

The patent was originally applied for on June 25, 2005. You can read the patent application in full at the U.S Patent Office Web site.